Plug securement and running arrangement and method

ABSTRACT

A plug securement and running arrangement including a wireline adapter kit having a tension mandrel, a setting tool attached to the wireline adapter kit, a collet configured and dimensioned to be received in a bore of a downhole plug and having a material-penetrating engagement feature on an outer surface thereof attached to the tension mandrel, an interengagement feature interengaging the tension mandrel and the collet, and a support surface extending from the interengagement feature and disposed radially inwardly of the feature. A method for deploying a plug in a borehole system including penetrating an inside surface of a plug with a material-penetrating feature of a collet, setting the plug at a target location in the borehole system, disengaging the material-penetrating feature from the plug.

BACKGROUND

In the subsurface resource recovery industry, a plethora of operations are undertaken within tubing or casing strings within a borehole. Some of these include the placement of plugs that will be used for other operations such as fracing and other pressure related activities. Delivering frac plugs to a selected location, anchoring them there with anchor and sealing components and then removing tools that were used in the process of setting the frac plug is well known in the art. Also well known in the art is the time required to redress tools such as wireline adapter kits (WLAK) prior to being ready for another operation. As time is a critical component of a successful resource recovery operation, the industry would well receive alternative arrangements that reduce the consumption of time in operations.

SUMMARY

A plug securement and running arrangement including a wireline adapter kit having a tension mandrel, a setting tool attached to the wireline adapter kit, a collet configured and dimensioned to be received in a bore of a downhole plug and having a material-penetrating engagement feature on an outer surface thereof attached to the tension mandrel, an interengagement feature interengaging the tension mandrel and the collet, and a support surface extending from the interengagement feature and disposed radially inwardly of the feature.

A method for deploying a plug in a borehole system including penetrating an inside surface of a plug with a material-penetrating feature of a collet, setting the plug at a target location in the borehole system, disengaging the material-penetrating feature from the plug.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are cross section views of an embodiment of a plug securement and running arrangement as disclosed herein in different positions of operation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a collet hereof in an engaged and supported position;

FIG. 5 is a view of the collet of FIG. 4 in a relaxed position.

FIG. 6 is a collet portion of an alternate embodiment of a plug securement and running arrangement as disclosed herein;

FIG. 7 is an embodiment of an interengagement feature as disclosed herein; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross sectional views of the alternate embodiment of a plug securement and running arrangement in a set position and a released position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a plug securement and running arrangement 10 is illustrated in a run in position. Beginning arbitrarily from a downhole end of the tool (to the right in the drawing figure), there will be seen slips 12 and a cone 14 with which the slips are conventionally interactive. A seal 16 is adjacent the cone and between the cone 14 and a wedge assembly 18. These reside on a plug body 20 and together therewith make up a plug 22. In an embodiment the plug 22 is a frac plug. Adjacent the wedge assembly 18 is a setting sleeve 24 that is used to set the plug 22 once a target borehole location has been reached during running The setting sleeve 24 is actuated by a wireline adapter kit 25 and setting tool 26 that is conventional.

Attached to the setting tool 26 is a tension mandrel 28. The mandrel 28 supports (connected to or as a part of) an interengagement feature 30 that is positioned, during run in and setting, in supportive contact with a collet 32. The collet 32 includes a number of fingers 34 and includes a material-penetrating engagement feature 36, which in some embodiments may be one or more wicker threads (see FIG. 4).

Interengagement feature 30 presents a support surface 38 disposed radially inwardly of material-penetrating feature 36 during the run in and setting phases of the arrangement 10. The support surface 38 in this embodiment causes the collet fingers 34 to be deflected radially outwardly from a resting position where the same fingers 34 form a frustoellipsoidal shape (see FIG. 5) if they are not deflected therefrom by the interengagement feature 30. The support surface 38 causes the material-penetrating feature 36 to engage and penetrate the material of the plug body 20. This position is effected during set up of the arrangement 10 at the surface and is maintained, as noted above, for the running and setting phases of the arrangement 10. During use, and when the interengagement feature 30 is withdrawn from the collet, the collet 32 will tend to release the plug 22. This is due to the unusual frustoellipsoidal shape noted above. Since the resting position of the collet fingers 34 in this embodiment are preconditioned to the frustoellipsoidal shape the fingers 34 will retract radially inwardly when the interengagement feature 30 and its support surface 38 are withdrawn from the collet 32.

In order to avoid premature withdrawal of the interengagement feature 30, a release configuration 40 is used to secure the interengagement feature 30 in the collet 32. In one embodiment the configuration 40 is a shear screw or set of shear screws that will release at a selected degree of pull from the tension mandrel 28. The collet 32 includes openings 41 to receive the release configuration 40. Additionally, a cap 42 is secured to the collet 32 so that upon release of the release configuration 40, the tension mandrel 28 will be retained by the cap 42 against shoulder 44 such that further tensile pull from the tension mandrel 28 will withdraw the interengagement feature 30 from the collet support position.

Once the collet 32 is unsupported and thereby releases from the body 20, the wireline adapter kit 25, setting tool 26 and setting sleeve 24 may all be withdrawn from the tubing string 46 in which the plug 22 has been set.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, various positions between run in and withdrawal of the tools are illustrated. FIG. 2 illustrates a position associated with setting of the slips 12 and seal 16 while FIG. 3 illustrates the arrangement 10 in a position just after the collet 32 has been unsupported and is being withdrawn from the body 20.

In an alternate embodiment, referring to FIGS. 6-9, the collet 132 differs from collet 32 and the interengagement feature 130 differs from interengagement feature 30 while other components as described above remain substantially the same. Addressing the collet 132 first, and referring directly to FIG. 6, the fingers 134 do not form a frustoellipsoid when at rest but rather a roughly cylindrical structure. Further, it will be noted in the figure that each finger 134 includes a flat 150 disposed at sides thereof. Each flat 150 is angled relative to the finger 134 to provide increasing deflection during use. This will become clearer with a discussion of FIG. 7, which illustrates the alternate interengagement feature 130. Referring to FIG. 7, the interengagement feature 130 includes a support surface 138 that acts similarly to the support surface 38 in that it supports the collet 132 in a position radially inwardly of the material-penetrating engagement feature 136. Interengagement feature 130 further includes a number of radially extending webs 154 and flanges 156 extending from a radially outward extent of the webs 154. The flanges are tapered oppositely to the flats 150 on the collet fingers 134 such that when nested as can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the movement of the interengagement feature 130 due to tension mandrel 128 movement will cause the fingers 134 to be deflected toward one another and radially inwardly to the effect that the material-penetrating feature 136 will release the plug and the arrangement may be withdrawn. It is further noted that it may be desirable to provide an antirotation configuration to ensure alignment of the webs 154 and flanges 156 between the fingers 134. In this embodiment, the antirotation configuration comprises a slot 160 in the interengagement feature 130 and a pin 162 secured to the collet 132. Similar to the embodiment disclosed above, a release configuration disposed in openings 141. Such release configuration may again in some iterations be one or more shear screws (not shown in this embodiment).

In use, the collet embodiments 32 or 132 may be made up to the interengagement features 30 or 130 to secure a plug 22 for running in the hole. Once the plug 22 is set, the pulling through the tension mandrel 28 or 128 will reach a selected level where the release configuration release and the collets 32 or 132 are released from the plug 22 whereafter the setting tool, WLAK, setting sleeve, interengagement feature 30 or 130 and collet 32 or 132 are removed from the borehole.

Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:

Embodiment 1

A plug securement and running arrangement including a wireline adapter kit having a tension mandrel, a setting tool attached to the wireline adapter kit, a collet configured and dimensioned to be received in a bore of a downhole plug and having a material-penetrating engagement feature on an outer surface thereof attached to the tension mandrel, an interengagement feature interengaging the tension mandrel and the collet, and a support surface extending from the interengagement feature and disposed radially inwardly of the feature.

Embodiment 2

The arrangement as in any prior embodiment wherein the support is a shaft.

Embodiment 3

The arrangement as in any prior embodiment wherein the collet further includes flats along each side of each collet finger.

Embodiment 4

The arrangement as in any prior embodiment 3 wherein the interengagement feature includes reduction fins.

Embodiment 5

The arrangement as in any prior embodiment wherein the reduction fins are configured to interact with the flats to draw the collet fingers radially inwardly when the interengagement feature is stroked.

Embodiment 6

The arrangement as in any prior embodiment wherein the reduction fins comprise a radially extending web and a flange.

Embodiment 7

The arrangement as in any prior embodiment wherein the flange includes an interface surface for a flat of the flats, the interface surface being closer to an axis of the interengagement feature distal to the tension mandrel and farther away from the axis of the interengagement feature proximal to the tension mandrel.

Embodiment 8

The arrangement as in any prior embodiment wherein the material-penetrating engagement feature is a wicker.

Embodiment 9

The arrangement as in any prior embodiment wherein the collet is cylindrical at rest.

Embodiment 10

The arrangement as in any prior embodiment wherein the collet is frustoellipsoidal when at rest.

Embodiment 11

The arrangement as in any prior embodiment wherein the collet includes a release configuration releasably connecting the collet to the tension mandrel.

Embodiment 12

The arrangement as in any prior embodiment wherein the collet includes a cap.

Embodiment 13

The arrangement as in any prior embodiment wherein the cap includes a release configuration releasably retaining the cap and the tension mandrel.

Embodiment 14

A method for deploying a plug in a borehole system including penetrating an inside surface of a plug with a material-penetrating feature of a collet, setting the plug at a target location in the borehole system, disengaging the material-penetrating feature from the plug.

Embodiment 15

The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the disengaging is withdrawing a shaft previously forcing the material-penetrating feature into the plug.

Embodiment 16

The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the disengaging is drawing reduction fins into the collet to forcibly radially reduce the collet.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should further be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity).

The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A plug securement and running arrangement comprising: a wireline adapter kit having a tension mandrel; a setting tool attached to the wireline adapter kit; a collet configured and dimensioned to be received in a bore of a downhole plug and having a material-penetrating engagement feature on an outer surface thereof attached to the tension mandrel; an interengagement feature interengaging the tension mandrel and the collet; and a support surface extending from the interengagement feature and disposed radially inwardly of the feature.
 2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support is a shaft.
 3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the collet further includes flats along each side of each collet finger.
 4. The arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein the interengagement feature includes reduction fins.
 5. The arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein the reduction fins are configured to interact with the flats to draw the collet fingers radially inwardly when the interengagement feature is stroked.
 6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein the reduction fins comprise a radially extending web and a flange.
 7. The arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein the flange includes an interface surface for a flat of the flats, the interface surface being closer to an axis of the interengagement feature distal to the tension mandrel and farther away from the axis of the interengagement feature proximal to the tension mandrel.
 8. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material-penetrating engagement feature is a wicker.
 9. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the collet is cylindrical at rest.
 10. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the collet is frustoellipsoidal when at rest.
 11. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the collet includes a release configuration releasably connecting the collet to the tension mandrel.
 12. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the collet includes a cap.
 13. The arrangement as claimed in claim 12 wherein the cap includes a release configuration releasably retaining the cap and the tension mandrel.
 14. A method for deploying a plug in a borehole system comprising: penetrating an inside surface of a plug with a material-penetrating feature of a collet; setting the plug at a target location in the borehole system; disengaging the material-penetrating feature from the plug.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the disengaging is withdrawing a shaft previously forcing the material-penetrating feature into the plug.
 16. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the disengaging is drawing reduction fins into the collet to forcibly radially reduce the collet. 